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TiO2 nanotube branched tree on a carbon nanofiber nanostructure as an anode for high energy and power lithium ion batteries

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Abstract

The inherently low electrical conductivity of TiO2-based electrodes as well as the high electrical resistance between an electrode and a current collector represents a major obstacle to their use as an anode for lithium ion batteries. In this study, we report on high-density TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) branched onto a carbon nanofiber (CNF) “tree” that provide a low resistance current path between the current collector and the TiO2 NTs. Compared to a TiO2 NT array grown directly on the current collector, the branched TiO2 NTs tree, coupled with the CNF electrode, exhibited ∼10 times higher areal energy density and excellent rate capability (discharge capacity of ∼150 mA·h·g−1 at a current density of 1,000 mA·g−1). Based on the detailed experimental results and associated theoretical analysis, we demonstrate that the introduction of CNFs with direct electric contact with the current collector enables a significant increase in areal capacity (mA·h·cm−2) as well as excellent rate capability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 133-791, Korea

    Taeseup Song, Hyungkyu Han, Jung Woo Lee, Hyunjung Park, Sangkyu Lee, Won Il Park & Ungyu Paik

  2. Center for Computational Science, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 136-791, Korea

    Heechae Choi & Seungchul Kim

  3. School of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Environmentally Friendly Chemistry and Applications of Ministry of Education, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, China

    Li Liu

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  1. Taeseup Song
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  2. Hyungkyu Han
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Correspondence to Ungyu Paik.

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Song, T., Han, H., Choi, H. et al. TiO2 nanotube branched tree on a carbon nanofiber nanostructure as an anode for high energy and power lithium ion batteries. Nano Res. 7, 491–501 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-014-0415-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-014-0415-1

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